Thomas Kinkade, ‘Painter of Light,’ Dies at Age 54 – Learn About His Life and Work

You might not know his name, but you definitely know his work. Thomas Kinkade painted quaint scenes of cottages, cobblestone paths and warm, glowing windows, seemingly lit as an invitation to come inside. He had mass appeal that made him a household name and the target of disapproval from art critics. Kinkade passed away unexpectedly on Friday at the age of 54.

Other than the fact that we can find copies of his paintings in every mall and hanging on the walls of most hotels, we don’t know a lot about Thomas Kinkade. Here are a few facts about the artist and some examples of his unique artistic style.

From the years 1984 through 1989, Kinkade explored a “French Impressionistic” style of painting under the brush name Robert Girrard. He created 71 different pieces of artwork under that name while still creating original Kinkade pieces at the same time.

In 1983, Kinkade worked as a background painter on the animated movie ‘Fire and Ice’ which was produced by Ralph Bakshi Studios. Bakshi released a statement following Kinkade’s death, saying critics miss the “true brilliance that is Kinkade.”

According to his website, Kinkade’s company has partnerships with many major companies like Disney, Billy Graham, Major League Baseball, Warner Brothers, NASCAR, Indianapolis 500, Elvis Presley Enterprises, The Denver Broncos, The Tim Tebow Foundation and the Biltmore Hotel corporation.

His cause of death is unknown, but it is believed he died of natural causes. An autopsy is pending. He leaves behind his wife Nanette, four daughters and an undeniable multimillion-dollar art legacy.